billski
Active member
A small feeder area, worth writing about for those who are curious. Took my 8-year old on Presidents's day for a Snowboard lesson and to practice afterwards.
A very good place for never-evers, though I would dare say it's a bit more oriented towards skier never-evers, since you must use the rope tow.
It's a low-budget operation, keeps the costs down, but pretty up to date. Much of the operation (other than the heavy equipment and lessons desk) is run by kids. Apparently you can get a job there as young as 14 or 15 with permission of your principal. Instructors, cashiers, rentals, food help were all staffed by teens.
Never a line for the one chairlift or rope tows. It snowed all day. Lots of just-getting started boarders (predominantly boys) trying their stuff on the board park break=your=leg gear. A good place for them to practice, you don't need a lot of vertical.
Good place in terms of never-ever, very low stress, slower pace. You don't have to worry about being crashed into. Reminded me of Bradford. While about as big as Nashoba, it didn't have the crowds and volumnous moving hazards that Nashoba does. And you can park practically next to the building.
Good food service, reasonably priced. Board Equipment was entirely adequate, rental staff was patient, but not too helpful. About a 45 minute drive from Rte 128 metro Boston.
Lots of Moms with coolers.
Private lesson was inexpensive, but I wish we had an adult. She was a nice kid, but I think an adult might think out of the box a bit more. Dumb alpine skier that I am was clueless about boarding. My daughter couldn't take the rope tow up with a board without falling out. She was in tears. Instructor tried to help, as did the attendant, but to no avail.
My daughter was so adamant about learning that she (and I) *walked* back up the hill all day.
Turns out, after discussing this with an instructor from Wachusett when I got home, the problem was that the rope was on the wrong (left) side of the boarder (make no diff usually to an alpine skier). When you are predominantly Right hand/footed, you need to be on right side, to get the locked in foot oriented propery.. duh. I sent email to the ops mgr at Ward, he apologized and offered a makeup lesson - nice rebound. I sure hope they pass this wisdom onto the staff. Wachusett recognized this problem, but chose to fix it with a magic carpet. Always somethin, huh?
It snowed all day; Ironically, it was the only place all season I've made fresh tracks! :-? Excellent coverage. Kinda weird looking out from the hill and seeing housing developments and people's backyards. But it works.
Oh yeah, the fried dough was a real hit too.
Gave Greg a photo which he posted on the resorts page.
A very good place for never-evers, though I would dare say it's a bit more oriented towards skier never-evers, since you must use the rope tow.
It's a low-budget operation, keeps the costs down, but pretty up to date. Much of the operation (other than the heavy equipment and lessons desk) is run by kids. Apparently you can get a job there as young as 14 or 15 with permission of your principal. Instructors, cashiers, rentals, food help were all staffed by teens.
Never a line for the one chairlift or rope tows. It snowed all day. Lots of just-getting started boarders (predominantly boys) trying their stuff on the board park break=your=leg gear. A good place for them to practice, you don't need a lot of vertical.
Good place in terms of never-ever, very low stress, slower pace. You don't have to worry about being crashed into. Reminded me of Bradford. While about as big as Nashoba, it didn't have the crowds and volumnous moving hazards that Nashoba does. And you can park practically next to the building.
Good food service, reasonably priced. Board Equipment was entirely adequate, rental staff was patient, but not too helpful. About a 45 minute drive from Rte 128 metro Boston.
Lots of Moms with coolers.
Private lesson was inexpensive, but I wish we had an adult. She was a nice kid, but I think an adult might think out of the box a bit more. Dumb alpine skier that I am was clueless about boarding. My daughter couldn't take the rope tow up with a board without falling out. She was in tears. Instructor tried to help, as did the attendant, but to no avail.
My daughter was so adamant about learning that she (and I) *walked* back up the hill all day.
Turns out, after discussing this with an instructor from Wachusett when I got home, the problem was that the rope was on the wrong (left) side of the boarder (make no diff usually to an alpine skier). When you are predominantly Right hand/footed, you need to be on right side, to get the locked in foot oriented propery.. duh. I sent email to the ops mgr at Ward, he apologized and offered a makeup lesson - nice rebound. I sure hope they pass this wisdom onto the staff. Wachusett recognized this problem, but chose to fix it with a magic carpet. Always somethin, huh?
It snowed all day; Ironically, it was the only place all season I've made fresh tracks! :-? Excellent coverage. Kinda weird looking out from the hill and seeing housing developments and people's backyards. But it works.
Oh yeah, the fried dough was a real hit too.
Gave Greg a photo which he posted on the resorts page.
